ON THE PRAIRIE 



39 



able as that of the waves of the ocean. No- 

 where else does one seem so far off from 

 all mankind ; the plains stretch out in death- 

 like and measureless expanse, and as he 

 journeys over them they will for many miles 

 be lacking in all signs of life. Although 

 he can see so far, yet all objects on the outer- 

 most verge of the horizon, even though 

 within the ken of his vision, look unreal and 

 strange; for there is no shade to take away 

 from the bright glare, and at a little dis- 

 tance things seem to shimmer and dance in 

 the hot rays of the sun. The ground is 

 scorched to a dull brown, and against its 

 monotonous expanse any objects stand out 

 with a prominence that makes it difficult to 

 judge of the distance at which they are. A 

 mile off one can see, through the strange 

 shimmering haze, the shadowy white out- 

 lines of something which looms vaguely up 

 till it looks as large as the canvas-top of a 

 prairie wagon; but as the horseman comes 

 nearer it shrinks and dwindles and takes 

 clearer form, until at last it changes into the 



